Circulating endothelin-1 reduces splanchnic and renal blood flow and splanchnic glucose production in humans

The effect of minimal changes in circulating plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) was studied in 12 healthy subjects receiving either 60 min of ET-1 (0.2 pmol.kg-1.min-1) or physiological saline intravenously. Blood was drawn from arterial, renal, and central hepatic vein catheters. Arterial ET-1-like immunoreactivity (ET-1-LI) increased from 4.7 +/- 0.4 (SE) to 8.6 +/- 1.0 pmol/l during ET-1 infusion. After 10 min, plasma ET-1-LI had increased to 6.12 +/- 0.29 pmol/l. For comparison the plasma ET-1-LI level was 12.9 +/- 4.2 pmol/in five patients with sepsis syndrome. Mean arterial blood pressure rose from 92 +/- 3 to 99 +/- 4 mmHg. Estimated splanchnic and renal blood flows fell by 18 +/- 5 and 10 +/- 3%, respectively, and splanchnic glucose production fell by 42 +/- 6% within 10 min of the ET-1 infusion and differed compared with corresponding control values. Only estimated splanchnic blood flow had increased 60 min after the ET-1 infusion. No change in splanchnic uptake of lactate or glycerol was seen. In conclusion, we suggest that circulating ET-1 with small or no demonstrable change in plasma concentration interferes with vasoactivity and splanchnic glycogenolyses in health and possibly pathophysiological conditions.